A not-so-fond look back at the worst viral deceptions of the year.
The Viral Spiral of 2018
The Fake Clinton Quote That Won’t Go Away
An old, bogus quote claiming that Hillary Clinton suggested in 2013 that Donald Trump should run for public office is circulating again on Facebook. It’s still not true.
Video: Trump’s Efforts to Stop Election Interference
In this week’s fact-checking video, CNN’s Jake Tapper discusses Hillary Clinton’s misleading claim that President Donald Trump has shown a “complete unwillingness to stop” Russian interference in U.S. elections.
Clinton Goes Too Far in Criticizing Trump
In an op-ed, Hillary Clinton went too far with her criticism that President Donald Trump has shown a “complete unwillingness to stop” Russian interference in U.S. elections. The Trump administration has taken a number of steps to combat foreign interference in future elections.
Clinton’s Emails, Weiner’s Laptop and a Falsehood
Q: Did the FBI wait until after the 2016 election to review the Hillary Clinton emails found on Anthony Weiner’s laptop?
A: No. A viral story misinterprets an FBI document and ignores widely reported facts.
Jennifer Garner Supported Hillary Clinton
Q: Did actress Jennifer Garner say, “I’m joining Trump train”?
A: There is no evidence of that. Garner supported Hillary Clinton for president in 2016.
Home Explosion Spawns Clinton Conspiracy Theory
Q: Were the victims of a New Jersey home explosion tied to an investigation into the Clinton Foundation?
A: No. A viral conspiracy theory is spreading that claim without any evidence. Investigators told us they “found no evidence of foul play” and that the deaths were ruled “accidental.”
Clare Bronfman, Part of NXIVM, Not a Clinton Aide
Q: Was Clare Bronfman an aide to Hillary Clinton — and was she indicted for child sex trafficking?
A: No. A false story is based on speculation that Bronfman could be indicted in relation to an alleged sex cult. But she never worked for Clinton.
False Story Ties Clintons to Doctor’s Death
Q: Did the late surgeon Dean Lorich expose “Clinton Foundation corruption in Haiti”?
A: No. Lorich co-authored an article criticizing the medical response to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, not the Clinton Foundation.
Clinton Wasn’t Named NY Attorney General
Q: Was Hillary Clinton appointed New York’s attorney general?
A: No. That story originated on a website that bills its work as satire.